Sheet feeding or transferring apparatus



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SHEET FEEDING OR TRANSFERRING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 26, 1951 5 Sheet-Sheet 2 Aug. 25, 1.936. A. BROADMEYER SHEET FEEDING OR TRANSFERRING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 26, 1931 Aug. 25, 1936. I A. BROADMEYER SHEET FEEDING OR TRANSFERRING APPARATUS Filed Sep gmantoo fllbertflroe); I

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which such timed or synchronous operation of machine, and thence rearwardly into a corner I5. 10 the transferring mechanism is unnecessary and From this. corner, they are delivered to a conone of the primary objects of the present invention veyor mechanism It at right angles to their path is the provision of practical means for this purof travel through the machine l0, and bythis pose. At the same time the invention is not conveyor, are delivered toa secondmachine I1 restricted to transfer mechanism in L-type ruling having pen beams l8, and when desired a gate l 9 15 machines, but may be employed in other capacithat. controls the passage of the sheets to the ties in which sheets are successively fed to an pen beams I8. H apparatus that operates on such sheets. Inthe present disclosure the invention relates In oneaspect therefore eveninan L-typeruling to the means for transferring or starting the machine, the mechanismmay be said toconstitute sheets from the corner I5 to the conveyor |6,1or 20 a feeder in that it feeds the sheetsto the second in other words, the mechanism constitutes means machine. V r for feeding the sheets out'of the comer l5 to the A further and importantobject is toprovide conveyor I 6. mechanism that is very simple inits character As shown, a shaft 20 is located longitudinally and eliminates the necessity of controlling valves in the right hand side of the corner 15 and is 25 and the like, in that the operation ofthe feeding drivenby any suitable means, indicated at 2|. in means is controlled directly by the sheets them- Figure 1. Onthis shaft are two suction rollers, selves cooperating with said feeding means. designated respectively 22 and 23. The roller Anembodiment of the invention that is at pres- 22, it will be noted, is located directly adjacent ent considered the preferable one is illustrated in to the end of the first machine l0 and consists of 'the accompanying drawings,,wherein:-- a disk having a series of peripheral suction ori- Figure l is a plan view of an l -type ruling ma-' fices 24. Each of these orifices has a lateral port chine showing the invention as a transfer mech- 25 opening through the side of the disk. anism or as a feeder for the second machine. The disk 22. has a rearwardly extending hub Figure 2 is a sectional view'taken substantially 26 and is keyed to the shaft, as shown at 27, 5 on the line 2'2 of Figure 1 and illustrating the so that the disk and hub rotates with the shaft. second machine in elevation. 4 I While it may be adjusted lengthwise of the Figures 3 and 4 are detail sectional views on' an shaft, it ;is ordinarily fixed thereto and for this enlarged scale andtaken substantially onthelines purpose a set screw 28 threaded through the.

3+3 and ll ofv Figure 1. 7 bottom of one of the orifices 24, engages the Figure 5' is a longitudinal sectional'view on shaft. The hub 26 rotates in a fixed head 29 the line 5 -5 of Figure 4. arranged alongside the roller 22, said hub being Figure 6 is a sectionalview on the line 6-6 held against rotation by an arm 30 extending of Figure 4 andon an enlarged scale. therefrom and engaged with a rod 3| located'lon- 45, 'Figure 7 is a detail perspective view of the itudinally o t sha t 0 a d beneath the transfer mechanism and associated conveyor same. This head 29 has a nipple 32 provided with means. a passageway 33 leading to a port 34 that opens Figures 8 and 9 are detail sectional views rethrough the side of the headladjacent the roller sp-ectively on the. lines 8-8 and 9,9 of Figure 6. 22 and in a position to register successively Inasmuch as the invention herein involved rewith the ports -25 of the roller as said roller 50 'lates more particularly to the transfer mechanism is rotated and as the ports come to their upperor the feeding means to the second machine, and most positions- (see Figure 6). The head and inasmuch as the generalstructure of ruling maroller are. held vin substantially air-tight enchines is well known, only sufficient. portions gagement by means "of .a coiled spring 35 that is thereof have beenillustratedtoindicatethe relamounted on thelprojecting portion of the hub, 55

- essary to maintain a timed relation between the Patented Aug. 25, 1936 SHEET FEEDING 0R TRANSFERRING APPARATUS Albert-'Broadmeyer, Harrisburg, la., assignor to W. 0. Hickok Manufacturing Company, Harrisburg, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application September 26, 1931, Serial No. 565,390

22 Claims. (01. 271-45 V In that class of ruling machines in which two sections or ruling mechanisms are employed for successively ruling sheets at right angles and at one feeding, it has heretofore been thought nection of the invention in the example illustrated. A- first ruling machine is shown at I ll and includes the usual penbeam ll operated by cams l2 with agate l3 in advanceof the pen beams. A conveyor cloth. I serves to carry the sheets 5 to be ruled to the gate I3, and when allowed by theoperation of the gate these sheets pass under the pens of the 'pen beams II and are carried to a point in the lower portion of the first two ruling mechanisms and the means for transferring the sheets ruled by the first mechanism to the second mechanism.

Applicant has, however, devised apparatus in corresponding to the head 29. The passageway; 45 opens through a nipple, Ma projecting from the head. The roller 28 also'has'a hub 42 on which is an abutment nut 33, and a coiled spring '44 interposed between the nut 43 and the head serves to yieldingly hold thehead dl and roller 23 tightly enough to prevent any material leak-v age through the joint and into the port,39. The roller 23 with. its head is, however, longitudinally adjustable along the shaft 20, but is feathered thereto, as shown by the key 45 slidable in akeyway J35 in the shaft 20.

The roller 23 furthermore is provided with an annular groove 41 engaged by an adjustable stop I sprocket wheels 53 on shafts 3.

shaftsis provided with a hand wheel .55. When this wheel is turned, it will be evident that the I in the corner, or i n other words, longitudinally of withboth suction rollers, but that each suction other.

'two suctionrollers 22 and 23.

Theoperation of the structure is as follows:

bar 48 that. extends across the corner in the path of the sheets entering the same, as will be a clear by reference to Figure 1 The bar 48, as

illustrated in Figures l and 5 is mounted on brackets 69 slidable on track bars 50 that extend longitudinally ofthe. shaft andare suitably securedfas illustrated at 5! to the frame of the machine. The brackets 49 are in turn connected to endless sprocket chains 52 that pass'around One of these brackets 49 will be moved along the bars'50 and the stop bar 58 carried with them. This in turn will move the suction roller 23 along the shaft,

26 and toward or from 'the suction roller 22.

The sheets that come from the first machine It], as usual, "are brought by a conveyor cloth 56 which passes around a roller 5'! and cooperating. with this roller and cloth are idler rollers 58' at the delivery end of the conveyor cloth56..

It. will be noted particularly by referencelto Figure 3 thatthe upper stretch or carrier stretch of the cloth 56, is at a considerable height above the :adjacent suction roller 22"and preferably a crossbar 59 is placed in advance of said roller 22 and behind the roller5l the same acting as a guide for the rear ends of the sheets delivered.

At a lower level and extending longitudinally the path of the sheets enteringthe conveyor 56 1 are suitable carrier tapes 6B, the upper stretches of whichv pass beneath the cross bar 48, which bar may be notched as shown in Figure 4, to allow their free passageandyet be in the path of the sheets transported by them.

Referring now-particularly to'Figures 1 and 7,'

it will be noted that suction creating means in the form of a pump 6! is employed-suitably driven from a motor 62. The suction side of this pump is connected by a conduit 63 and branches 64 directly with the nipples 32 and Ma of the suction heads 29 and M. It will be noted that there is no valve in this conduit'and that not only isthepump in free open communication roller is in effect in communication with the Asa consequence when the pump is in operation air is constantly being drawn through the topmost'suction orifices 24 and 31 'of the Sheets ruled on the first machine I!) are eventually delivered by the rear end of the conveyor cloth 56 on to the tapes 65in the corner I5. Because of the elevation'of the conveyor cloth 56 and as will be clear by reference to- Figure 3,

the advance end of each sheet passes overthe first suction roller 22. at some distance above it;

but as said advance end of the sheet strikes the 7 stop bar 48, it will engage the. second suction roller 23 over the topmost orifice 31 that is in communication through the ports 38 and 39' with the passageway 40,- and consequently with the suction pump but as long as the corresponding orifice 24 ofthe other suction roller 22 is uncov- .ered,'no material amount of'vacuum'is created in the orifice 31 and no feeding action takes place. When the rear end of the sheet; however, leaves the conveyor cloth 56, it will drop behind the guide plate 59 as indicated in Figure 3 and will then close the active orifice 24 of the suction roller22. Both relief vents to the pump being thus closed, vacuum will now be created in both suction rollers and both become activeto carry off the-sheet at right angles'to its pathof' introduction to the corner so that the sheet is now fed to the tobogga-n' l6 and thence into the second machine H, where it is ruled at right angles. 7 I r This mechanism, it will be observed is an exceedingly simple one and eliminates the necessity of sychronous operation of the two machines" or any invariable timed relation orrthe part of the transfer mechanism with respect to either; machine. In other wordsdriving the first and:

second machine and the transfer mechanism in' synchronous'or' timed relation is unnecessary.

This is because the operation of the transfer mechanism isnot dependent on anything but thesheet itself and it' does not become operative until the sheet is in proper position to be transferred. "In this connection it will be noted that: each feeding roller constitutesa check or control upon the othengfor unlessa sheet is positioned so as to engage and close the active suction orifices ;of both rollers, neither roller is operative.

By having the roller 23- and the stop bar adjust."-

able toward and from the other roller, sheets of various sizes can be operated on. .More than that,

it will be noted that periodic operation of the suction feeder by a. valve'isentirely eliminated," thereby reducing not only the mechanism and, V

the cost; but eliminating the necessity of securing any timed relation or operation of the rollers.

While the invention has been shown as a trans fer mechanism in an. L-type ruling machine, it will be evident that it. has all the functions of a feeder andmay be employed in other relations and. for other purposes, particularly where the sheets'are delivered successively'to it to be transmitted to another sheet operating instrumentality. r a

, From the foregoing, it is .thought that thecronstruction, operation and many advantages of the herein describedinvention will be apparent to those skilled in the; art without furtherdescription and itwill be understood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion and minor details of construction "maybe resorted to without deadvantages of the invention. What .I; claim, is:

parting. fromthejspirit'br sacrificing any of the i 1. In apparatus of the character set forth, the

combination with a plurality of sheet moving devices, ofrneans for causingone to be inactive unless theother is active.v andme'ans for causcausing a sheet to en'gage one and leave it in active-and thereafter engagethe-other and permit both" to becomeactive-and jointly operate on the sheet to-move it; v r

1 4. In apDaratus of the character set forth, thje' combination with a pluralityof suction sheet movingdevices, of a suction creating meanshav ing freely communicating branch-connections with e the respective sheet moving d'evices; each of said devices having sufficient postage; area-that when one is open to atmosphereg it' will produce' a relief vent to prevent feeding suction in the othenand means for passing a sheetacros's one and into contact with the other while contacting with the firsttdclose the vents of both simultaneously, permitting them to-act on 'the sheet and-move it.

5. Inapparatus of the character set'forth, the combination with-a plurality of 1 suction sheet moving devices, of a suctioncreating-meanscommon to both of said devicesand having continuously opencommunicatior'r therewith, each device having sufiicient open communication with atmosphere so that either when unobstructed will constitute a vent to the suction creating means and will prevent a feeding suction in the other, and means for delivering sheets successively to a position to be acted upon by the suction creating means, by passing each sheet successively to the devices and thereby maintaining bothinactive until both are simultaneously contacted.

6. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination with a plurality of suction sheet moving devices, of a suction creating means common to both of said devices and having open communication therewith so that either when unobstructed, will constitute a vent to the suction creating means and will prevent a feeding suction in the other, and means for delivering a sheet first over one then over the other of the suction devices and holding it out of coaction with the first until the sheet is in coaction with the second.

7. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination with a shaft, of a plurality of suction rollers journaled on the shaft, a suction creating means connected to the suction rollers and either roller forming a vent to prevent feeding vacuum in the other, and means for feeding sheets successively in a direction longitudinally of the shaft to cause each sheet to contact with and be fed by both rollers.

8. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination with a shaft, of a plurality of suction rollers journaled on the shaft, a suction creating means connected to the suction rollers and either roller forming a vent to prevent feeding vacuum in the other, and means for feeding sheets successively in a direction longitudinally of the shaft to cause each sheet to pass over one roller in spaced relation thereto and then over and in contact with the otherroller and permitting the rear end of: the sheet to thereafter drop into contact with the first roller;

9.1napparatus of the character set forth, the combination with a shaft, of a plurality of suction-rollers journaled on the shaft, a suctioncreating means connected to the suction rollers and. each roller forming a vent to prevent feeding vacuum in the other, and a conveyor operating to carry sheets longitudinally of the shaft and having a delivery end higher than the first roller to pass the advance ends of the sheets over. and in spaced relation to said first roller and advance it toward and in contact with the second roller, said conveyor allowing therear ends of the sheets to drop upon the first roller and thereby by closing both rollers, to cause vacuum therein, and movement of r the sheets transversely to their initial path of movement.

10. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination with a plurality of sheet feeding devices, of means connecting the devices for preventing the operation of one independently of the other, and means-for delivering sheets in succession'and causing each sheet to cooperate successively and then simultaneously with both feeding devices to prevent itsfeeding movement by oneand thereafter-effect its feeding movement by both.

11. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination with a plurality of sheet feeding devices relatively movable'toward and from each other, of means connecting the devicesfor preventing the operation of one independently of the other and securing their joint operation in feeding a sheet, means for delivering sheets successively to said feeding devices, and a stop for the sheets adjustable with one of the devices.

12. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination with a shaft, and a plurality of suction rollers mounted thereon to rotate therewith, of suction creating means having communications with both rollers so that either when unobstructed, constitute a relief vent for the pump, one of the rollers being adjustable toward and from the other, a stop for the sheets adjustable with the adjustable roller, and means for feeding sheets successively so that each sheet is brought against the stop and into cooperative relation with both rollers.

13. In apparatus of the character set forth, the combination with a shaft and a plurality of suction rollers mounted thereon to rotate therewith, of suction creating means having connections with both rollers so that either when unobstructed, constitute a relief vent for the pump, one of the rollers being adjustable toward and from the other, a stop bar for the sheets engaging the adjustable roller, means for adjusting the bar and the roller, and a conveyor that delivers sheets successively in a direction longitudinally of the shaft and bringing each sheet against the stop and into coaction with both rollers, and said rollers acting jointly by suction on each sheet to move it transversely to the path of the conveyor.

14. The combination with a plurality of sheet moving devices that cooperate to move a sheet, of means for causing a sheet to be associated successively with the moving devices and in simultaneous association with all, and means for causing the moving devices to act upon the sheet when it is thus simultaneously associated with the said devices.

15. The combination with a plurality of sheet moving suction devices, of means for presenting means controlled by the causing one of the devices to be inactive unless means for moving sheets taneously associated with all, and means for-creating suction in said devices to cause them to simultaneously acton the sheet when said sheet is simultaneously over said suction devices.

17. In sheet feeding mechanism, the combination with a plurality of sheet moving devices, of presence of a sheet for the other is active,and successively in an edgewise direction to a..posi-' tion to control the devices and be'acted upon by the same when in controlling position;

18. In sheet feeding mechanism, the combi-v nation with a plurality of suction devices for moving sheets, of means for constantly creating.

suction in said devices, each device actingas a suflicient vent for the other to prevent the latter acting alone to move a sheet, and means for moving sheets successively in'an edgewise direction to a position to close the vents of, both devices and permit the building up of sufiicient suction in both devices to cause them ,tocooperatively act in moving the sheet so positioned. i,

19. In sheet feeding mechanism, the combination with a plurality of sheet moving devices-of means for causing each to be inactive unless the I other is active, and-means, for; delivering successive; sheets above said devicesto a position to. '7 I contact both, said sheets acting to cause, both 1 to be active and operate to move said sheets.

20. In sheet feeding'mechanism, the combination with a-plurality of rotatable suction rollers for moving sheets, of asuction creating means connected to the rollers'for creating suction simultaneously; invboth, each roller constituting a vent to atmosphere for maintaining the. other suction roller inactive, andmeansfor delivering sheets successively above the rollers-and to a position to close theventsof both to thereby create holding suction betweenv theroller's and the sheets and 7 causethe movement-of the latter bythe formers 21. In sheet: feeding nation with a plurality of means for; causing each tobe inactive unless the otheris'active, and mea ns for delivering a sheet to the moving devices so that it will'contact firstdevice inactive until the second devicebee comesactiva i 22. Insheetfeeding mechanism, the combination withapluralityof rotatable suctionrollersior moving-sheets, of asuction creating means con:-

nected to the rollers for creating suction simultaneously inboth, each roller "constituting a vent to atmosphere for maintainingthe-other suction roller inactive, and means for deliveringa sheet to causeqit to contact with and close the vents one roller inactive until the other is active.

l BaoADMEYER,

mechanism, the combi f of sheet ,moving devices,

of the rollers in succession, thereby maintaining v 7 2'0' 7 with them in succession and thereby maintain the 

